FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH MANUFACTURING CAPACITY TO MANAGE THE INDUSTRY'S RESPONSE TO YOUR NEW KILN STICK?

A:  Tuff-Stik™ uses a business model that contracts our manufacturing out to highly specialized companies who are at the top of their industry and run most efficiently and cost-effectively, to keep our product costs down to the absolute minimum.

We are pleased to announce that we have Vendor-Supplier Agreements now with five different aluminum-extrusion companies, which together represent twenty-five (25) extrusion mills; we have the capacity to produce 100 truckloads of TUFF-STIK, per month, a total of 1200 truckloads per year…that is almost 20 million TUFF-STIK’s annually! 

Most of these mills can add even more capacity if needed, which would thereby greatly increase that amount of production capacity available. We are tooling more sites up and have six mills tooled now for various profiles and are adding quarterly to that list. 

We are busily shipping truckload orders currently and are even meeting 2-week lead times, in some cases, as needed. (4–6-week lead time is still the norm.)  

…and we continue to offer free shipping to your mill on all full truck load orders.

Q: “Why do you use manufacturer’s reps?”

A: After much discussion and feedback from our customer mills’, we have elected to change from using Manufacturers’ Representatives to a Direct Sales Channel approach. Instead of renewing a marketing agreement we had over the past several years, we have instead opened a direct-to-our-customers’ sales program, that was effective March 1, 2024. 

**UPDATE**

After fielding multiple requests from the U.S., Canada and Internationally, we ARE , looking at an "Authorized Dealer Program" for qualified Industry companies who have a long-term track record and customer support history.  We will keep you all posted as those discussions continue!

Q: “How do you attach the Belt-Bumper™?”

A: Simple. Belt-Bumpers are for the XSL, XL, XD and Cross-Outs Series TUFF-STIK’s. They just push in from the end of the TUFF-STIK either by hand, or you can use a rubber hammer.  To insure they remain firmly seated in the end of the aluminum stick, we suggest using Loctite Brand "Professional Performance 300 Heavyweight Bonding spray" which is a super waterproof/steam-proof and a high temperature operating range...simple to use.  We can even direct you as to where to purchase that supply as well!

These really reduce wear and tear normally experienced on stick-recovery conveyors, and we expect they should last a couple of years, before needing replaced.

On a truckload order of 96” sticks, we ship the Belt-Bumpers in 14 cartons (each containing 2,000 pieces each, enough for one bundle of Tuff-Stiks) direct to your Maintenance Dept. Those are shipped a week out before you receive your truckload of kiln sticks. It’s easy for your maintenance department to install the Belt-Bumpers when they’re still in the bundle from the extrusion mill before you cut the banding.

 We sincerely appreciate your business and look forward to working together with you!